Delete false google review?

[Plain Lucky]

Anyone had experience with having a google review deleted?

I have a friend whose business received a negative google review that was 100% made up. His business is a long standing professional occupation that has a great reputation. The business does not have a website and doesn't have much of an online presence so the review is actually the only one they've ever received. So if someone google's the business name or occupation, there is one negative review and that's all that a potential customer can will see.

They feel they know the party that posted the review and it is a competitor. We talked about how they could have some of their other customers post reviews to essentially "drown out" the negative one but the fact remains that the negative review is 100% false and should not be there.

[Hunter Dan]

I own a few businesses and online marketing is the name of the game for me. It would be easier to grow a horn out of the middle of your head than to get a google review removed and I spend millions a year with them. If your friend wants to fix it then you are right, he needs to get in the game with an online presence. Then he will need to flood google and all other desired sites with good quality reviews. We do it by offering incentives to our customers for leaving good reviews, many will do it without the incentive but the extra push works for others.

[CastAndBlast]

It can be done, but I am not sure how. We had one pop-up 2 weeks after firing an employee. My digital marketing company was able to have it removed. So, I know it is possible, but I am not sure how it can be done.

[kingranch]

I own a few businesses and online marketing is the name of the game for me. It would be easier to grow a horn out of the middle of your head than to get a google review removed and I spend millions a year with them. If your friend wants to fix it then you are right, he needs to get in the game with an online presence. Then he will need to flood google and all other desired sites with good quality reviews. We do it by offering incentives to our customers for leaving good reviews, many will do it without the incentive but the extra push works for others.

This
The incentive kicks it in overdrive

[hopedale]

Saw this and hope it helps - https://www.bluecorona.com/blog/fixi...google-reviews

[KyleW]

It is possible because I have left 3 bad reviews of one company, and I have had to write it 3 times because they had the first two deleted off google somehow. Not sure how they did it so no help there, but it is definitely possible.

[yotethumper]

I manage online marketing campaigns and websites for a multi-million dollar corporation.

Long story short, report the review to google in GMB but don't get your hopes up that it will be deleted. Negative reviews aren't bad, they show readers that you aren't flooding your review page with bots leaving perfect ratings.

Don't sweat it, but be sure to get positive reviews to "combat" the bad review ASAP. You can give customers some incentive to leave positive reviews or you can just ask happy customers to leave reviews.

Sidenote: it is 2019 tell your friend to invest in a website and hire somebody who knows how to setup GMB and GA. He needs a Facebook page as well.

[Plain Lucky]

Thanks for all of the feedback, very helpful and will pass it on